Dom Day: Dominic Niman Shines in Kentucky’s Run-Rule Victory

Dominic Niman provided the best outing of the season by a Kentucky starting pitcher and Emilien Pitre led an offensive barrage with four RBI as the Wildcats run-ruled Lipscomb 16-1 in seven innings on Saturday afternoon at Kentucky Proud Park to claim the weekend series.

Niman, a graduate transfer, was sharp from the opening batter. He fanned Jesus Pacheco on three pitches for his 200^th collegiate strikeout and allowed only one run while striking out five across six innings. It was UK’s first quality start of the season, defined as a starting pitcher allowing three earned runs or fewer in at least 6.0 innings pitched. His only hiccup came in the fourth inning but it was short-lived as he shook off a cramping calf to quiet an experienced Lipscomb lineup.

Offensively, the Wildcats (9-1) gave Niman plenty of cushion while scoring in each of the first four innings before capping it with a seven spot in the sixth. Pitre was 3-of-4 with three runs and four RBI while smacking doubles to both the right-center and left-centerfield gaps. Nick Lopez added a career day with two hits in three at-bats with three runs, two RBI, two walks, a double and a stolen base.

Every UK starter had either a hit and/or RBI in the game.

UK will go the sweep of the Atlantic-Sun Conference preseason favorite on Sunday afternoon.

NOTES

• Kentucky now is 9-1 in 2024.
  • This is UK’s best start since 2022 when the Cats started on a 10-1 run to open the season.
• UK Coach Nick Mingione is in his eighth season at the helm and now owns a 225-151 career record.
  • Mingione needs 33 victories to become the second-winningest coach in school history.
  • UK is 87-34 in the month of March under Coach Mingione.
  • Mingione is 142-41 in non-conference games overall.
  • Mingione is 123-16 vs. non-Power Five opponents.
• Kentucky’s bullpen has pitched 14.0 consecutive scoreless innings.
• Kentucky went 2-of-2 on stolen base attempts in the game.
• The Wildcats drew nine walks and were hit by two pitches.
  • UK has drawn 17 free passes and been hit by four pitches in the series.
• Graduate LHP Dominic Niman went 6.0 innings, yielding one run on four hits, walking one and striking out five.
  • He is 3-0 on the season and lowered his ERA to 2.81.
  • He notched his 200^th career strikeout by sitting down the opening batter of the game on three pitches.
  • It is UK’s first quality start of the season, defined a three earned runs or fewer in six or more innings pitched.
• Junior C Devin Burkes went 1-for-2 with a run, an RBI and two walks.
  • For the series, Burkes is 4-of-6 with three runs, four RBI, two steals and three walks.
• Junior IF Emilien Pitre went 3-for-4 with a pair of runs, four RBI, two doubles, a stolen base and a walk.
  • He had a pair of doubles.
  • The four RBI tie a career high, set last season at LSU.
  • It was his 22^nd career multi-hit and 17^th career multi-RBI game.
• Junior OF Ryan Waldschmidt went 1-for-3 with three runs, two RBI, two walks and a double.
  • The three runs tied a career best.
• Senior IF Ryan Nicholson had a pinch hit, two-run single.
• Senior IF Nick Lopez went 2-for-3 with three runs, two RBI, two walks, two doubles and a steal.
  • It was his third multi-hit game of the season.
  • He set new career highs in runs and RBI.
• Freshman INF Ethan Hindle earned his first collegiate start.
  • He drove in his first career run with an RBI groundout in the fourth.

ON DECK

Kentucky hosts Lipscomb looking to sweep the series on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET. The game will be streamed on SECN+.  Audio coverage will be provided by the UK Sports Network on UKathletics.com and 98.5 FM (Lexington).